Elite Trader Funding vs Topstep
Rule-by-rule comparison from each firm's own website, last verified . The marked figure is the stronger one on that line.
Quick take
- Cheaper entry: Topstep ($49 vs $57).
- Higher headline split: Elite Trader Funding (up to 100% (sim-funded) / 80% on LIVE ELITE).
- Higher Trustpilot rating: Elite Trader Funding (3.8).
- Overall PA Score: Elite Trader Funding 6.0 vs Topstep 6.4.
Elite Trader Funding stronger on 3Topstep stronger on 5of 9 lines where both publish a comparable figure
| Elite Trader Funding6.0 PA Score | Topstep6.4 PA Score | |
|---|---|---|
| PA Score | 6.0 | 6.4 (stronger figure) |
| Trustpilot | 3.81,166 (stronger figure) | 3.714,989 |
| Founded | 2022 | 2012 (stronger figure) |
| HQ | Not published | Chicago, IL |
| Markets | Futures, Indices, Commodities, Crypto (stronger figure) | Futures |
| Challenge types | 1-step, instant | 1-step |
| Entry fee from | $57 | $49 (stronger figure) |
| Cost per $1K allocation | $2.31 | $0.98 (stronger figure) |
| Largest account | $150K | $150K |
| Profit target | $1,000-$9,000 (about 6-10% of balance) | 6% |
| Daily loss limit | none on 1 Step/Static/Fast Track/DTF; $1,100-$2,200 hard breach on EOD, $1,500 on Diamond Hands | optional (automatic in Live Funded) |
| Max drawdown | $500-$5,000 depending on plan and size | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Drawdown type | varies by plan: intraday trailing (1 Step), static (Static), EOD trailing (EOD, Diamond Hands) | EOD trailing (locks at starting balance) |
| Profit split | up to 100% (sim-funded) / 80% on LIVE ELITE (stronger figure) | 90% |
| Leverage | Not published | Not published |
| Platforms | Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TradingView, Rithmic, R Trader, ATAS, Bookmap, EdgeProX, eSignal, Finamark, Investor/RT, MotiveWave, Quantower, Sierra Chart, Tickblaze | TopstepX |
| Payout frequency | per payout cycle: first cycle after 8 Active Trade Days, then every 10 ATDs (DTF: 5/10/15/20 ATDs by size); LIVE ELITE: daily on business days | after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path) |
| First payout (days) | 8 | 3 (stronger figure) |
| Min trading days | 5 | 2 |
| Consistency rule | Only Fast Track has a best-day cap: 40% to qualify, 30% at reward. Other plans have no consistency cap, but an Active Trade Day only counts if it hits a minimum $ profit and a % of your best day | 55% best-day rule in Combine; 40% on XFA Consistency path |
| News trading | Not published | Not published |
| Weekend holding | Restricted | Not published |
| Discount code | Not published | Not published |
| Visit site (opens Elite Trader Funding in a new tab) | Visit site (opens Topstep in a new tab) |
Not published means we could not find the figure on the firm's own site. Sources are listed on each firm page.
Which should you choose?
Topstep scores 6.4/10 and Elite Trader Funding 6.0/10, a clear but not huge gap. Both are futures prop firms, so the rule differences below are like for like. Which one is better depends on how you trade, so here is who each firm suits, based only on what they publish.
Pick Elite Trader Funding if
- a higher headline split matters (up to 100% (sim-funded) / 80% on LIVE ELITE)
- you prefer a static drawdown floor (Topstep uses EOD trailing (locks at starting balance))
- you need Tradovate, NinjaTrader and TradingView
Pick Topstep if
- you want the cheaper way in ($49 vs $57 for the smallest account)
- you care about cost per $1K of account ($0.98 vs $2.31)
- you want the longer track record (operating since 2012)
- you weigh firm-reported payouts ($1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders)
Price at each account size
Cheapest program each firm sells at the sizes both offer.
| Account | Elite Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| $50K | $207 | $49 |
| $100K | $257 | $99 |
| $150K | $347 | $199 |
Payouts
Elite Trader Funding: per payout cycle: first cycle after 8 Active Trade Days, then every 10 ATDs (DTF: 5/10/15/20 ATDs by size); LIVE ELITE: daily on business days. First payout after 8 days. Methods: Rise: bank, Rise: crypto wallet (USDC/USDT), Rise: exchange. The firm reports "$13M+ Paid Out" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path). First payout after 3 days. Methods: Prop-to-brokerage (US), Aeropay (US), Wise (China, Canada, UK), ACH (US, $30 fee), Wire/SWIFT ($30 fee). The firm reports "$1.5B+ paid out to prop firm traders" (homepage, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Firm-reported payout totals are the firms' own figures. We have not audited them.
Rule changes
No rule changes logged for either firm since tracking began. Any change will show here and on the rule-change log.
Legit check
Track record, review volume, payout terms and restrictions for each firm, on one page each: Is Elite Trader Funding legit? · Is Topstep legit?
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Elite Trader Funding or Topstep?
Smallest published entry fee: Elite Trader Funding $57, Topstep $49. Cheapest per $1K of account: Elite Trader Funding $2.31, Topstep $0.98.
Which pays out faster, Elite Trader Funding or Topstep?
Elite Trader Funding: per payout cycle: first cycle after 8 Active Trade Days, then every 10 ATDs (DTF: 5/10/15/20 ATDs by size); LIVE ELITE: daily on business days. Topstep: after 5 winning days $150+ (Standard) or 3 days w/ 40% consistency (Consistency path).
Which has the higher profit split?
Elite Trader Funding: up to 100% (sim-funded) / 80% on LIVE ELITE; Topstep: 90%. Headline splits often need scaling or an add-on.
Which is better for beginners, Elite Trader Funding or Topstep?
On our six-point beginner checklist Elite Trader Funding meets 3 and Topstep meets 1. The checklist is explained on the best prop firms for beginners page.
Are Elite Trader Funding and Topstep legit?
Both publish their rules and are listed with sources. See the evidence pages: propanalyse.com/firms/elite-trader-funding/legit/ and propanalyse.com/firms/topstep/legit/.